QP: Delay, lag, and disingenuous concern

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It was another bleak day for attendance, when there wasn’t even quorum in the Chamber, because who cares about the gods damned constitution? Erin O’Toole led off, in person, mini-lectern on desk, and he worried about what is happening with Enbridge Line 5 in Michigan, and wanted action on this. Chrystia Freeland, via video, assured him that the understand the importance of the energy sector, and they were working with the American administration. O’Toole tried again, got the same answer, and then he switched to the Economist’s problematic prediction for when Canadians would be vaccinated, along with some disingenuous trolling about the misunderstood vaccine numbers out this morning. Freeland assured him that six million doses would still be delivered by the end of the first quarter, but did not explain the confusion around doses. O’Toole repeated the question in French, and got the same answer from Freeland in French. O’Toole tried to be theatrical in his concern in French — and it came off very badly— and Freeland repeated her assurances about doses arriving. Alain Therrien led off for the Bloc, and he complained about people being quarantined while accessing benefits, to which Freeland assured him that they were working to close this loophole and hoped the opposition would work toward that. Therrien was not mollified and demanded people repay benefits they got, and Freeland assured him, in a calm voice, that they were working on this and would be adding additional measures at the border. Jagmeet Singh was up next for the NDP, and in French, repeated the false reading about the Pfizer vaccine dose numbers, for which Freeland gave her rote reassurances without explaining the numbers. Singh demanded the vaccine plan in English — never mind that the rollout is almost wholly provincial jurisdiction, and Freeland again repeated her memorised reassurances.

Round two, and Pierre Paul-Hus gave another round of exaggerated complaints about the vaccine deliveries (Anand: We are on track to get all of the doses we contracted for), Michelle Rempel Garner insisted the math didn’t work out (Anand: Look at these experts who say our plan is a role model; There is a significant ramp-up that is required in the global market), and Pierre Poilievre blustered about IMF growth figures, paycheques and credit cards (Freeland: Here is the Bank of Canada’s forecast in their Monetary Policy Report; The best economic plan is a strong health policy). Xavier Barsalou-Duval demanded all non-essential flights be cancelled (Alghabra: Here are all the measures we have taken, and we are examining future options; Fisher: Travellers face mandatory quarantine and a negative PCR test before arrival), and Kristina Michaud demanded the same, along with ticket refunds (Garneau: We have given clear direction that Canadians should not travel, and they face mandatory quarantine and testing). Warren Steinley worried the Regina air control tower would be shuttered (Alghabra: We are consulting with stakeholders), Stephanie Kusie worried that foreign airlines are pulling out after getting Canadian government funds (Freeland: If you are referring to the wage subsidy, it has been essential in keeping four million Canadians employed), and the sole-source contract to FedEx for vaccine shipments (Anand: We ran a limited competition and FedEx put forward a proposal to work with a Canadian vaccine distributor). Heather McPherson worried about a proposed open-pit coal mine in Alberta (O’Regan: We are watching this file closely), and Brian Masse worried about Windsor’s air traffic control power possibly being closed (Alghabra: NavCanada is taking undertaking a study on service needs).

Round three saw questions on small businesses facing American protectionism (Ng: The Americans have agreed to consult closely to ensure our industries are not constrained), Julie Payette’s pension (Lamoureux: Canadians deserve a workplace free of harassment and we put in an independent review process at Rideau Hall, and the PM accepted her resignation), asking the Americans for more vaccine doses (Anand: We are on track for Q1 with our current contract), vaccine doses (Anand: Same answer), high-speed internet funding for local communities (Monsef: Our fund is working, but please contact my office for more details), the concerns of fishers in BC (Jordan: We are looking to address these concerns and are meeting with stakeholders), self-employed Canadians being asked to pay back CERB (Qualtrough: No one is being asked to make repayments now and we will work with those who need to make them going forward), inter-city bus networks at risk of going under (Alghabra: These are regulated by provinces, but are monitoring the situation), and vaccines for seniors (Anand: Usual answer).

Overall, it was another infuriating day overall, made worse because Chrystia Freeland’s connection was poor and kept suffering from delay and lag. Again there was but a single Liberal in the Chamber, while there weren’t enough enough opposition MPs to make up quorum, and I don’t care that MPs voted to waive it on Monday – this is a constitutional obligation that shouldn’t be just shrugged off as part of this self-satisfied “we’re just setting a good example.” You’re not, really. Today the disingenuous concern trolling over vaccine deliveries – revised numbers put out by Pfizer reflects that we should be able to get six doses out of vials instead of five, so there are still the same number of doses being shipped, and if we can’t get enough of the stringers that make six doses feasible, then Pfizer will just ship up more vials to get to the same doses. It would have been great of Freeland or Anita Anand could have stated this, but they didn’t, relying on their same rote reassurances that we’ll get all of our promised doses by the end of Q1, so that was of no help at all after everyone spent the morning freaking out about it. Also, quoting The Economist‘s estimates on when Canada will be fully vaccinated ignores the problematic assumptions within said estimation, and nobody called that out either, which is maddening. There is so much misinformation floating out there, and the fact that MPs both continue to perpetuate it in order to score cheap points, and the government won’t properly refute it but simply repeats their same talking points is negligent all around. It doesn’t have to be like this, but here we are.

Sartorial snaps and citations remain on hold for lack of useable data.

3 thoughts on “QP: Delay, lag, and disingenuous concern”

  1. When The Economist reads like a last-minute grade-school book report, you know how far the media has fallen. The equivalent of that piece on Canada’s “vast land mass” being a hindrance to its vaccination rollout would have been Trump’s riff on Frederick Douglass, “an example of someone who is being recognized more and more for some very great things.” Forget the “great reset.” Has the pandemic ushered in an idiocracy?

  2. Just look to your own reporting, Dale, for a reason the government is not turning up in person for QP. It has become low-yield politicing. Once the opposition gives up on ‘disingenuous concern trolling’ (you) in QP, and begins to make substantive criticisms/contributions, then I expect government MPs would return. As it is, the opposition is just there to stock their shitposting (also you) libraries for the coming election. And play (also you) pandemic theatre.

  3. “It would have been great of Freeland or Anita Anand could have stated this, but they didn’t….”

    Yeah, well — as Althia Raj quite correctly noted on At Issue this evening — it would have been good if Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin had had the wit at today’s presser to answer the questions he was asked the first time, instead of being so obtuse. If he had, some of the concerns could have been cleared up.

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